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Allied military phonetic spelling alphabets facts for kids

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Imagine trying to spell out a tricky word over a crackly radio, like "rendezvous" or "reconnaissance." It would be super hard to understand each letter! That's why the military uses Allied military phonetic spelling alphabets. These are special lists of words, where each word stands for a letter of the alphabet. For example, instead of saying "A," you might say "Able." This makes sure messages are clear, even when communication is difficult.

These alphabets are not like the "phonetic alphabets" you might learn in music or language class, which show how sounds are made. Instead, they are simply code words for letters.

During World War I and World War II, different countries and even different parts of the military (like the Army or Navy) had their own spelling alphabets. This made it tough for them to talk to each other. To fix this, the Allied forces (mainly the US and UK) worked together to create common alphabets.

The last alphabet used in WWII continued into the Korean War. Then, in 1956, a new international alphabet was adopted. This new alphabet is now used by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and the ITU. NATO members call their version the "NATO Phonetic Alphabet."

NATO Phonetic And Morse Code Alphabet
NATO Phonetic And Morse Code Alphabet, from the US Navy Signalman 3 & 2 training manual, 1996. This table combines the ICAO international spelling alphabet and the ITU International Morse Code.

During WWII, the Allies had special terms for how different groups communicated:

  • Combined: When different countries' military groups talked to each other.
  • Joint: When two or more military groups from the same country talked to each other.
  • Intra: When people within the same military group talked to each other.

Because of this, the Combined Communications Board (CCB), formed in 1941, made a spelling alphabet for when US and British forces communicated. If the US Army and Navy talked together, they used a "Joint Army/Navy" alphabet. If the US Army was on its own, it used its own alphabet. Some letters were the same across these alphabets, but many were different!

WWII CCB (ICAO) and NATO Alphabets

The US and UK started working together on these spelling alphabets during World War II. By 1943, they agreed on a streamlined system known as the CCB alphabet. Both nations had their own systems before this, going back to World War I. After the war, in 1947, the ICAO accepted this WWII-era alphabet as a standard.

After NATO was created in 1949, some changes were made. The ICAO spelling alphabet is also known as the "NATO phonetic alphabet." This is because it's used in a special book for all NATO navies. This book helps navies spell out messages using voice, flags, or Morse code. The name "NATO phonetic alphabet" became very well known because NATO's communication methods are used worldwide.

The NATO phonetic spelling alphabet was officially adopted on January 1, 1956. The ICAO radiotelephony spelling alphabet was still being finalized around that time.

Wartime CCB and post-war NATO
Letter 1943 CCB (US-UK)
(same as 1947 ICAO)
NATO
Jan 1 – Feb 29, 1956 March 1, 1956 – present
A Able Alfa Alfa
B Baker Bravo Bravo
C Charlie Charlie Charlie
D Dog Delta Delta
E Easy Echo Echo
F Fox Foxtrot Foxtrot
G George Golf Golf
H How Hotel Hotel
I Item India India
J Jig Juliett Juliett
K King Kilo Kilo
L Love Lima Lima
M Mike Mike Mike
N Nan Nectar November
O Oboe Oscar Oscar
P Peter Papa Papa
Q Queen Quebec Quebec
R Roger Romeo Romeo
S Sugar Sierra Sierra
T Tare Tango Tango
U Uncle Uniform Uniform
V Victor Victor Victor
W William Whiskey Whiskey
X Xray X-ray X-ray
Y Yoke Yankee Yankee
Z Zebra Zulu Zulu
0 Zero
1 Wun
2 Too
3 Thuh-ree
4 Fo-wer
5 Fi-yiv
6 Six
7 Seven
8 Ate
9 Niner

United Kingdom Military Spelling Alphabets

Before the international standard, different parts of the UK military had their own ways of spelling things out.

British Army Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

British Army radiotelephony spelling alphabet
Letter 1904 1904 1914 1914–1918 1918 1956–present
A Ack Ack Ack Apples Ack Alfa
B Beer Beer Beer Butter Beer Bravo
C C Cork C Charlie Cork Charlie
D D Don Don Duff Don Delta
E E Eddy E Edward Eddy Echo
F F Freddy F Freddie Freddy Foxtrot
G G George G George George Golf
H H Harry H Harry Harry Hotel
I I Ink I Ink Ink India
J J Jug J Johnnie Jug Juliett
K K King K King King Kilo
L L London L London London Lima
M Emma Emma Emma Monkey Emma Mike
N N Nuts N Nuts Nuts November
O O Orange O Orange Orange Oscar
P Pip Pip Pip Pudding Pip Papa
Q Q Quad Q Queenie Quad Quebec
R R Robert R Robert Robert Romeo
S Esses Esses Esses Sugar Esses Sierra
T Toc Toc Toc Tommy Toc Tango
U U Uncle U Uncle Uncle Uniform
V Vic Vic Vic Vinegar Vic Victor
W W William W William William Whisky
X X Xerxes X X-Ray Xerxes X-ray
Y Y Yellow Y Yorker Yellow Yankee
Z Z Zebra Z Zebra Zebra Zulu

Royal Navy Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

Royal Navy radiotelephony spelling alphabet
Letter 1914–1918 1921 1956–present
A Apples Ac Alfa
B Butter Beer Bravo
C Charlie Charlie Charlie
D Duff Don Delta
E Edward Edward Echo
F Freddy Fox Foxtrot
G George George Golf
H Harry How Hotel
I Ink Ink India
J Johnnie Johnnie Juliett
K King King Kilo
L London Love Lima
M Monkey Monkey Mike
N Nuts Nan November
O Orange Orange Oscar
P Pudding Pip Papa
Q Queenie Queen Quebec
R Robert Robert Romeo
S Sugar Sugar Sierra
T Tommy Toc Tango
U Uncle Uncle Uniform
V Vinegar Vic Victor
W William William Whisky
X Xerxes X-ray X-ray
Y Yellow Yoke Yankee
Z Zebra Zebra Zulu

RAF Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

The RAF radiotelephony spelling alphabet was used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF). It helped them communicate clearly over radio, especially when spelling out aircraft names or codes. For example, a pilot might say "H for Harry" or "G for George."

Spitfire V 316
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb of the Polish 303 Kościuszko Squadron showing the RAF squadron code "RF" of 303 Squadron and the individual aircraft letter "D" which would be spoken, D-Dog

History

During World War I, communication was often done through wired telephones. These lines could be noisy or easily interfered with. Spelling alphabets were created to make sure messages were understood, both on wires and on the newer radio equipment.

The British Army and Royal Navy had their own alphabets. The RAF alphabet was based on the Army's "signalese" system. It didn't have a word for every letter at first, only for the letters that were most often confused.

By 1921, the RAF's "Telephony Spelling Alphabet" was used by all three British armed services. It then became required for UK civil aviation. In 1956, the NATO phonetic alphabet was adopted because the RAF worked closely with NATO and shared aviation facilities worldwide.

RAF radiotelephony spelling alphabet
Letter 1921–1942 1942–1955 1956–present
A Apple Able/Affirm Alfa
B Beer Baker Bravo
C Charlie Charlie Charlie
D Don Dog Delta
E Edward Easy Echo
F Freddie Fox Foxtrot
G George George Golf
H Harry How Hotel
I Ink Item/Interrogatory India
J Jug/Johnnie Jig/Johnny Juliett
K King King Kilo
L London Love Lima
M Monkey Mike Mike
N Nuts Nan/Nab/Negat/Nectar November
O Orange Oboe Oscar
P Pip Peter/Prep Papa
Q Queen Queen Quebec
R Robert Roger Romeo
S Sugar Sugar Sierra
T Toc Tare Tango
U Uncle Uncle Uniform
V Vic Victor Victor
W William William Whiskey
X X-ray X-ray X-ray
Y Yorker Yoke Yankee
Z Zebra Zebra Zulu

United States Military Spelling Alphabets

Like the UK, the US military also had different spelling alphabets for its various branches.

US Army Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

US Army radiotelephony spelling alphabet
Letter 1916 Signal Book

1916–1939

FM 24-5

1939–1941

FM 24-5

1941–1943

FM 24-12

1943–1955

ICAO

1956–present

A Able Afirm Afirm Able Alfa
B Boy Baker Baker Baker Bravo
C Cast Cast Cast Charlie Charlie
D Dock Dog Dog Dog Delta
E Easy Easy Easy Easy Echo
F Fox Fox Fox Fox Foxtrot
G George George George George Golf
H Have Hypo Hypo How Hotel
I Item Inter Inter Item India
J Jig Jig Jig Jig Juliett
K King King King King Kilo
L Love Love Love Love Lima
M Mike Mike Mike Mike Mike
N Nan Negat Negat Nan November
O Opal Option Option Oboe Oscar
P Pup Prep Prep Peter Papa
Q Quack Queen Queen Queen Quebec
R Rush Roger Roger Roger Romeo
S Sail Sail Sail Sugar Sierra
T Tare Tare Tare Tare Tango
U Unit Unit Unit Uncle Uniform
V Vice Victor Victor Victor Victor
W Watch William William William Whiskey
X X-ray Xray Xray Xray X-ray
Y Yoke Yoke Yoke Yoke Yankee
Z Zed Zed Zed Zebra Zulu
0 Zero Zero Zero
1 Wun Wun Wun
2 Too Too Too
3 Th-r-ee Th-r-ee Thuh-ree
4 Fo-wer Fo-wer Fo-wer
5 Fi-iv Fi-yiv Fi-yiv
6 Siks Siks Six
7 Sev-ven Sev-ven Seven
8 Ate Ate Ate
9 Ni-yen Ni-yen Niner

'Interrogatory' was used instead of 'Inter' when the Army and Navy worked together.

US Navy Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

The US Navy's first spelling alphabet wasn't for radio. It was used on ships to call out flags for signals. The Navy had two different alphabets for this, with only "Xray" being the same in both.

The Navy's first radio spelling alphabet was published in 1913.

US Navy phonetic alphabets 1913 to present
Letter 1908 1913–1926 1927–1937 1938 WWII ICAO

1956–present

A Actor Ash Able Afirm Afirm AFIRM Alfa
B Baker Back Boy Baker Baker BAKER Bravo
C Canteen Chain Cast Cast Cast CHARLIE Charlie
D Diver Dog Dog Dog Dog DOG Delta
E Eagle Egg Easy Easy Easy EASY Echo
F Fisher Fox Fox Fox Fox FOX Foxtrot
G Gangway Gig George George George GEORGE Golf
H Halliard Horse Have Hypo Hypo HOW Hotel
I Insect Ice Item Int Int INT India
J Jockey Jake Jig Jig Jig JIG Juliett
K Knapsack King King King King KING Kilo
L Lugger Lash Love Love Love LOVE Lima
M Musket Mule Mike Mike Mike MIKE Mike
N Neptune Net Nan Negat Negat NEGAT November
O Oyster Oak Oboe Option Option OPTION Oscar
P Pistol Page Pup Prep Prep PREP Papa
Q Quadrant Quail Quack Quack Queen QUEEN Quebec
R Reefer Raft Rush Roger Roger ROGER Romeo
S Shipmate Scout Sail Sail Sail SUGAR Sierra
T Topsail Tide Tare Tare Tare TARE Tango
U Unload Use Unit Unit Unit UNCLE Uniform
V Vessel Vast Vice Vice Victor VICTOR Victor
W Windage Winch Watch William William WILLIAM Whiskey
X Xray Xray X-ray X-ray X-ray XRAY X-ray
Y Yeoman Yacht Yoke Yoke Yoke YOKE Yankee
Z Zebra Zoo Zed Zed Zed ZEBRA Zulu

Joint Army/Navy Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet

The Joint Army/Navy (JAN) spelling alphabet was created in 1940 and started being used on March 1, 1941. It was later updated by the CCB after the US joined World War II. This alphabet was used by all parts of the United States Armed Forces until 1956, when the ICAO spelling alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, etc.) took its place. Before the JAN alphabet, each military branch had its own radio alphabet, which made it hard for them to talk to each other.

The US Army, British Army, and Canadian Army used a slightly changed version of this alphabet from 1943 onwards. For example, they used "Sugar" instead of "Sail."

Some parts of the JAN spelling system are still used today in the US Navy. For example, words like Dog, William, X-Ray, Yoke, and Zebra are used to name different parts of a ship for damage control. Also, the response "Roger" (meaning "received") comes from this alphabet.

Joint US Army/Navy radiotelephony spelling alphabet
Letter Joint Army/Navy
1941–1943
CCB
1943–1955
ICAO
1956–present
A Able ABLE Alfa
B Baker BAKER Bravo
C Charlie CHARLIE Charlie
D Dog DOG Delta
E Easy EASY Echo
F Fox FOX Foxtrot
G George GEORGE Golf
H How HOW Hotel
I Item (or Interrogatory) ITEM India
J Jig JIG Juliett
K King KING Kilo
L Love LOVE Lima
M Mike MIKE Mike
N Nan NAN November
O Oboe OBOE Oscar
P Peter PETER Papa
Q Queen QUEEN Quebec
R Roger ROGER Romeo
S Sail/Sugar SUGAR Sierra
T Tare TARE Tango
U Uncle UNCLE Uniform
V Victor VICTOR Victor
W William WILLIAM Whisky
X X-ray XRAY X-ray
Y Yoke YOKE Yankee
Z Zebra ZEBRA Zulu
0 Zero Zero Zero
1 One Wun Wun
2 Two Too Too
3 Three Thuh-ree Tree
4 Four Fo-wer Fower
5 Five Fi-yiv Fife
6 Six Six Siks
7 Seven Seven Seven
8 Eight Ate Ate
9 Nine Niner Niner

Images for kids

See Also

  • Allied Communication Procedures
  • International Code of Signals
  • Spelling alphabet
    • APCO radiotelephony spelling alphabet
    • Cockney alphabet
    • German phonetic alphabet
    • Greek spelling alphabet
    • ICAO radiotelephony spelling alphabet
  • Toc H—example of signalese carry-over
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